[riversflow]

You don’t have GPS satellite data, “location services” without Google Play services. That means a gps lock takes minutes. This data could be stored on the phone, but it’s better for google if you fetch it from them when you need it.

[lern_too_spel]

Another example of something that was never in AOSP and so does not fit GGGGP's claim. You can still get your GPS location without Google Play Services exactly the same as you always could.

[vel0city]

Sure, if apps choose to use those APIs you can still theoretically get a GPS fix. But tons of apps just use the Google Play Services APIs.

[immibis]

And Google heavily pushes them to, to the point of (when I last made an android app years ago) automatically adding its libraries to your project every time you open the project, then giving compiler warnings if you use the old ones.

[yket645wykj]

the only thing you miss out on without google play services is the wifi/bluetooth location service

gps satellite data comes from a supl server, and supl support is built in to aosp.

now, unfortunately one of the most reliable supl data sources is google, but it's also trivial to run a proxy to mask where you're requesting the supl data from (neither the request nor payload vary)

[riversflow]

> the only thing you miss out on without google play services is the wifi/bluetooth location service

not true. A standalone gps unit can use an almanac to get a gps lock, but supl suppplants using an almanac.

supl is a spec created by the telecom industry[1][2]. I don't think they want people to have good offline gps.

> it's also trivial to run a proxy to mask where you're requesting the supl data from

Lmao. It is definitely not trivial. I have an Android that is running lineage and microG, it's an endeavor for someone who likes tech.

Regardless, according to my understanding of the spec, the supl server authenticates your identity[3] and is already effectively tracking you, so using a proxy would only obfuscate your IP address. As such, I don't think IP alone is enough to maintain privacy from Google. You would need middleware to anonymize your device ID.

But really, I find it egregious that I can't choose to use simple gps almanac data and must instead either use a blind fix on my phone or give my data up to some random server. Standalone GPS units that use almanac data get a lock virtually instantly compared to my Note 10. I'm trying to create a disconnected smartphone for backpacking. It's garbage to have to burn battery needlessly.

[1] https://docs.broadcom.com/doc/1211168566155

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Mobile_Alliance

[3] pdf! page 13 https://www.openmobilealliance.org/release/SUPL/V2_0_6-20200...